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The problem with 'compassionate' conservatism or any other such contortion is that it seeks the same ends liberals do. Using tax dollars and government power to adress what are essentially local or private issues (No Child Left Behind Act) or issues that are simply none of the US government's business (billions in aid for Africa and to combat AIDs in Africa) In the latter case if individuals think this is a problem worthy of thier interest they can voluntarily contribute thier private monies to any of a number of groups dealing with this problem.

All governmnet is based on power and specifically the power of compulsion. 'Compassionate' conservatism is nothing more than Ike's 'dime store New Deal' redux. The same notioins that libreals have propels the program namely that it is governments business to solve everyone's problems via dollars extorted from normal Americans via the tax code.
It is the opposite of the 'mind your own business' conservatism that rank and file Americans endorse.

A Republican Party that is merely compassionate might win some election victories and will thus probably prevail in some legislative battles, but such a conservative movement cannot achieve some of the most important victories for the preservation of the republic.

Unfortunately, most "conservatives" gauge their success based solely on election results; the more Republicans in office, the more advancements made in conservativism. Nothing could be further from the truth. Even when so-called "conservative" Republicans sign on to liberal issues (education, Medicare, Social Security, etc.), it is called "progress" because socialist agendas championed by Republicans are always seen as being better than socialist agendas championed by Democrats.

Given the nature of the challenge the country will be facing in the coming years, that needs to change.

Mr.Antle, this has been going on for decades & all always say it must change but IT NEVER CHANGES. If you keep voting in this "Two-Party Cartel" you will get these same results as the pols are bought & paid for by the elites who do not want conservativism to flourish thus making the people in charge of their lives. Are conservatives ever going to see the light?

Conservatives must always be compassionate. But for the sake of the things we wish to conserve, we must not internalize the left´s view that this means abandoning conservatism.

I like what this author has to say. The main thrust is nothing new, but I thought he was insightful on the subject of what liberals can be thinking, something that sometimes baffles me.

We have to keep speaking out on every issue. Hearts and minds are being changed.

I see the welfare state as an almost unstoppable juggernaut. We may do the very best we can simply by making the tax cuts permanent and have it sink in long-term that government has limited ability to spend.

On social issues, I am even less optimistic.